GB2139506A - Surfaces for standing and walking on by persons wearing skis - Google Patents

Abstract

Parallel straight lengths of brush strip 3, 4, 5, each comprising an elongate base member 6 with tufts 9 of brush filaments fixed in blind holes 7, 8 in the base member, are laid on a base structure 1, 2 with a pitch of at least five times the width of the brush strip. The brush filaments are removed from some of the holes 7A and 8A and fastening elements are inserted in these holes to secure the brush strips to the base structure. Preferably, the base members 6 are made of plastics, and adjacent brush strips are spaced at least 20 cms. apart. The tufts 9 may extend approximately 6 mm. outwardly above the holes 7, 8. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A surface for standing on and walking on by persons wearing skis At ski resorts it is common to have at the bottom and/or at the top of a drag lift or a chair lift, for example, a wooden or other base structure upon which persons wearing skis stand and/or walk. This base structure should desirably be covered with snow and if that is not the case damage to the bottoms of the skis can occur. For these and other situations, it is desirable to have a means of holding the bottom of the skis away from a wooden or other base structure so that persons wearing skis can stand, walk and ski slowly on the base structure without damage to their skis.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of making a surface which is suitable for standing on and walking on by persons wearing skis, wherein parallel straight lengths of brush strip, each comprising an elongate base member with tufts of brush filaments fixed in blind holes in the base member and projecting upwardly from the base member, are laid on a base structure with a pitch at least five times the width of the brush strip and are secured to the base structure by removing the brush filaments from some of the blind holes and inserting in those holes fastening elements which secure the brush strip to the base structure.

Preferably, the spacing between adjacent lengths of brush strip is at least 10 cm., better still at least 20 cm. so that it is easy to use a broom or shovel to clear away debris between the brush strips.

An example in accordance with the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a wooden platform on which brush strip is laid, and Figure 2 shows a sectional view of part of what is shown in Figure 1 , taken as indicated by the arrows II in Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a base structure at the bottom of a skiers' drag lift. On horizontal flat wooden planks 1 and 2 are laid a number of straight parallel brush strips 3, 4 and 5 of a type the principle of which is already known per se. Each comprises an elongate base member 6 of plastics material and of rectangular cross-section, 1 to 2 cm. wide and about 1 cm. in height, formed with two staggered rows of holes iand Bof circular cross-section which are blind, that is to say they extend from the upper surface of the brush strip towards the lower surface but do not reach the lower surface. The holes in each row have a pitch of about 1 cm. and in each hole is secured a tuft 9 of brush filaments of plastics material.At intervals along one row of holes or along both rows, the tufts are pulled out and the hole, 7A or 8A, is extended by drilling and then nails, screws or other fastening members are driven in the extended holes and hold the brush strips down on the planks.

The pitch of the brush strips is at least 5 times the width of each brush strip, desirably at least 10 times and the spacing between adjacent brush strips is at least 10 cm., better still at least 20 cm.

The brush filaments extend 5 to 10 mm., preferably about 6 to 7 mm., outwardly beyond the holes 7 and 8.

1. A method of making a surface which is suitable for standing on and walking on by persons wearing skis, wherein parallel straight lengths of brush strip, each comprising an elongate base member with tufts of brush filaments fixed in blind holes in the base member and projecting upwardly from the base member, are aid on a base structure with a pitch at least five times the width of the brush strip and are secured to the base structure by removing the brush filaments from some of the blind holes and inserting in those holes fastening elements which secure the brush strip to the base structure.

2. A method according to claim 1 in which said pitch is at least ten times the width of the brush strip.

3. A method according to claim 1 in which the spacing between adjacent lengths of brush strip is at least 10 cm.

4. A method according to claim 1 in which the spacing between adjacent lengths of brush strip is at least 20 cm.

5. A method according to any preceding claim in which the holes are extended before inserting the fastening elements in them.

6. A method according to any preceding claim in which the tufts extend between 5 and 10 mm.

outwardly beyond the holes in the brush strip.

7. A method according to claim 6 in which the tufts extend about 6 or 7 mm. outwardly beyond the holes in the brush strip.

8. A method of making a surface which is suitable for standing on and walking on by persons wearing skis, substantially as described above with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A surface for standing on and walking on by persons wearing skis At ski resorts it is common to have at the bottom and/or at the top of a drag lift or a chair lift, for example, a wooden or other base structure upon which persons wearing skis stand and/or walk. This base structure should desirably be covered with snow and if that is not the case damage to the bottoms of the skis can occur. For these and other situations, it is desirable to have a means of holding the bottom of the skis away from a wooden or other base structure so that persons wearing skis can stand, walk and ski slowly on the base structure without damage to their skis. According to the present invention, there is provided a method of making a surface which is suitable for standing on and walking on by persons wearing skis, wherein parallel straight lengths of brush strip, each comprising an elongate base member with tufts of brush filaments fixed in blind holes in the base member and projecting upwardly from the base member, are laid on a base structure with a pitch at least five times the width of the brush strip and are secured to the base structure by removing the brush filaments from some of the blind holes and inserting in those holes fastening elements which secure the brush strip to the base structure. Preferably, the spacing between adjacent lengths of brush strip is at least 10 cm., better still at least 20 cm. so that it is easy to use a broom or shovel to clear away debris between the brush strips. An example in accordance with the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a wooden platform on which brush strip is laid, and Figure 2 shows a sectional view of part of what is shown in Figure 1 , taken as indicated by the arrows II in Figure 1. Figure 1 shows a base structure at the bottom of a skiers' drag lift. On horizontal flat wooden planks 1 and 2 are laid a number of straight parallel brush strips 3, 4 and 5 of a type the principle of which is already known per se. Each comprises an elongate base member 6 of plastics material and of rectangular cross-section, 1 to 2 cm. wide and about 1 cm. in height, formed with two staggered rows of holes iand Bof circular cross-section which are blind, that is to say they extend from the upper surface of the brush strip towards the lower surface but do not reach the lower surface. The holes in each row have a pitch of about 1 cm. and in each hole is secured a tuft 9 of brush filaments of plastics material.At intervals along one row of holes or along both rows, the tufts are pulled out and the hole, 7A or 8A, is extended by drilling and then nails, screws or other fastening members are driven in the extended holes and hold the brush strips down on the planks. The pitch of the brush strips is at least 5 times the width of each brush strip, desirably at least 10 times and the spacing between adjacent brush strips is at least 10 cm., better still at least 20 cm. The brush filaments extend 5 to 10 mm., preferably about 6 to 7 mm., outwardly beyond the holes 7 and 8. CLAIMS

1. A method of making a surface which is suitable for standing on and walking on by persons wearing skis, wherein parallel straight lengths of brush strip, each comprising an elongate base member with tufts of brush filaments fixed in blind holes in the base member and projecting upwardly from the base member, are aid on a base structure with a pitch at least five times the width of the brush strip and are secured to the base structure by removing the brush filaments from some of the blind holes and inserting in those holes fastening elements which secure the brush strip to the base structure.

2. A method according to claim 1 in which said pitch is at least ten times the width of the brush strip.

3. A method according to claim 1 in which the spacing between adjacent lengths of brush strip is at least 10 cm.

4. A method according to claim 1 in which the spacing between adjacent lengths of brush strip is at least 20 cm.

5. A method according to any preceding claim in which the holes are extended before inserting the fastening elements in them.

6. A method according to any preceding claim in which the tufts extend between 5 and 10 mm.

outwardly beyond the holes in the brush strip.

7. A method according to claim 6 in which the tufts extend about 6 or 7 mm. outwardly beyond the holes in the brush strip.

8. A method of making a surface which is suitable for standing on and walking on by persons wearing skis, substantially as described above with reference to the accompanying drawing.